Funny Miscommunication (Boys be warend)

The other day I was at coffee and the thought came upon me, "hey I should probably tell them I am leaving next week." I prepared for my lack of Vietnamese skills and wrote out dates and even drew an impressive map. When I finally mustered up the courage, I paid for my drink and showed her my notes. I tried to say "'bạn' (friend) and I 'đi Mỹ' (go back to America)" followed by me pointing to June 5th on the calendar I had created.



After seeing her expression I knew she hadn't understood. Then, she got an idea! She went over to the cabinet with the products they sell only to point to the pack of PADS! Oh my goodness she had thought I was trying to ask her for feminine products! If it wasn't for my determination to get this point across I might have died laughing.

Finally, after a second attempt, I was successfully able to communicate that I would 1)be leaving June 5th and 2)I would be up in Da Nang next year (to that she gave me a little pat on the arm).
Still a little wary of my point actually being made, I was relieved when I got call from her husband's nephew asking if this were true.

Even though we have not been able communicate these past nine, I have many good memories with this couple and I will miss them dearly.

No More Woe Is Me

Today I was sitting at my regular coffee shop thinking about next year. I admit, I have felt sorry for myself that I will not get to return to HCM and be with my friends but as I was thinking this, the woman who owns the shop came out with tea and poured me a glass. At that moment I lost my composure and started to tear up.

Sidenote: In the beginning, I wasn't too fond of the tea so I would put ice from my coffee into my tea glass to get some coffee flavor mixed in. Both the woman and her husband took notice and have served me tea with a glass of ice from then on.

So the woman had come out with a glass already prepared with ice and then took it one step further to actually pour it for me. It is custom that when you go out with people to pour their drink before you pour your own and I have always seen that as such a selfless act...granted she was not having tea but to have her serve me definitely stirred up my emotions.

Once I calmed down, I started thinking, if I had made an impact on a couple I see for one hour a day, I surely have made an impact on my students and friends....and it was then that my thoughts turned from "woe is me" to "how lucky am I?" I have complete faith that I was not brought here for nine months to make friends for a temporary time. No, I believe G0d is going to use me both up in Danang and back here. I had a talk with Him and admitted I have no clue how He will use me in both places but that I have faith He will. So I am not losing friends...instead I have the chance to strengthen friendships in HCM and create even more in Danang!

Yes, I am still sad that I won't get to see my friends as often but I know after I leave in 12 days, it will not be the last time I see them.

The Days Are Winding Down

As time is getting closer to board the plane home, my emotions are running wild. I am so excited to go home but the thought of leaving my friends here makes me upset. What has been playing on my mind is the fact that our entire team is coming back next year (which is AMAZING!) but everyone will be returning to the regions they were in this year except for me. I am sure it is difficult for them to say goodbye but I am jealous because they know what they are coming back to.

I am currently reading a book called, "Having a Mary Spirit," and one chapter talked about saying "yes" to G*d even if it hurts. I am trying to have the faith that by saying yes to Danang, He is going to use me in a powerful way. Please pr*y with me that He will prepare the hearts of the people I will encounter next year and that I will be at peace about this decision. Also pr*y that my relationships here in HCM will continue to grow as well even though I will be far away.

With that...here are some pictures from the past week

At a party to say goodbye to some friends

The weekend before was a Vietnamese play (which my friend Toan translated for me) and the weekend after was quite night at a coffee shop, listening to live music.
Some of my friends: Toan and Thien

Cooking chicken, WITH CHOPSTICKS, at my friends juice shop.

While I cooked, Jane made the drinks

Saying goodbye to one of my favorite classes. They were a crazy class but we had a lot of fun. I had to fight to teach this last day of class and I am glad I won because they brought so much joy to an already crazy day.

On the last day of teaching this class a video crew came to film the public speaking courses our school offers...luckily I had planned to have celebrity interviews with my students. Unfortunately, the crew was on a schedule and my students were rushed through their assignment. Then to makes matters even more stressful, the crew filmed my students from every angle. So one pair of students had to sit in front of the class and do the interview three times for the camera guy. It was a lot of pressure on my students so right when the camera crew left, in sync, they slumped down in their seats and yelled, "trời ơi" which means "Oh God". I had them reenact it because it was just too funny.

Matthew 28:18-20 Being Fulfilled!

I graduated from Cal Poly in 2008 and for the graduating students, Campus Crusade for Chr1st had a special night. We got to walk across the stage and get recognized and we were pr*yed over and sent out. But the most vivid part of the night for me was the worship. As we sang the song, "Hosanna," these lyrics really resonated with me

I see a generation
Rising up to take the place
With selfless faith, with selfless faith
I see a near revival
Stirring as we pr*y and seek
We're on our knees, we're on our knees

And as I sang these lyrics, I remember feeling so strongly that this was a generation that was going to shake things up. Nowhere in my mind was the thought of coming to Vietnam nor did I know the plans of my fellow classmates. However, as I look at my inbox today, I feel like I am constantly receiving updates from my friends who are all over the world, doing amazing works for the L0rd.

I am not the best at following blogs but today something told me to check them and I saw that my friend Kristi is in Africa teaching and showing her love to her students and to children in an orphanage. From what I read, she is lavishing them with love and through her, the people of Africa are seeing the L0rd.

I also have two friends in Mexico, brothers, Justin and Darren, who are sharing the Truth in juvenile hall. Today I read that a kid that they have been sharing with got out and went to church with them and was encouraged by what he saw there!

AND!!!! My friend Kelsey has been over in France for the past year and has decided to return for another year. She has been blessed to see someone baptized in His name!

If these stories do not show how He is rocking this world through this generation, I don't know what will. I hope you are as encouraged today as I am about what is going on in all corners of the world. The Light is being spread and slowly but surely, the Enemy is being defeated!

¹⁸Then The Son came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the H0ly Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." ~Matthew 28:18-20

This is a link to "Hosanna" by Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we4t0fAnGBA&feature=related

His Healing

As I posted on an earlier blog, I have been having some tough times over here and during those times, all I wanted to do was get through it on my own. I was not allowing anyone to help...and in the process I was also rejecting His help.

Yesterday, I met with a woman from church who had said she wanted to listen and talk with me about everything that's been going on. We spent two hours talking and pr*ying against The Enemy and for His healing. At the end of our time together, she gave me the book, "Having a Mary Spirit." After reading two chapters, I am psyched about what He is planning to do in my life this next month and next year!

I have heard time and time again that "G0d meets us where we are at" and that's awesome because it means we can come to Him in our sin and our brokeness but when I hear that I am left thinking....cool, he meets us here and then what? The author in the book took it one step further by saying, "I'm so glad we have a Savi0r who loves us just as we are, BUT LOVES US TOO MUCH TO LEAVE US THAT WAY." He wants to meet us where we are and then take us out of it! And I know that right now He is calling out to meet, asking me to let Him take me from where I am so he can completely transform me into the woman He has created me to be.

I know it's not going to be a quick process but I know it's going to be life changing and I am ready to go through it because I know He has greater plans for me!

Fun With Friends

As time here is winding down, every moment is something to be valued and these past two weekends were prime opportunities to hang out with friends.

Last weekend our country wide team was able to get together in Hoi An for our spring conference. If you don’t know Vietnam at all, Hoi An is located in central Vietnam and is known as a very touristy place. The streets are lined with tailors and gift shops fitting your every trinket need. Needless to say, when we weren’t in meetings, most of us were shopping or getting clothes made. Shopping was followed by eating and eating by sleep…every day following the same routine.

The streets were so beautifully lit at night

One of the many places we ate this weekend. I like the name too!

What I cherished most about this trip though was not the goodies I bought but the time I spent with my friends. We have only seen each other a few times within these past nine months but every time we get together, we are able to pick up right where we left off. We spent most moments laughing and sharing our memories of the year. What made this trip even more special was knowing that most everyone from our team is planning on returning for another year meaning we will get to grow in our relationships even more!

Nikki, Lance and Kristen

The gang at a donut shop back in Da Nang

The plane ride home was a little more difficult because my roommate and I got everything out on the table but He provided us with friends who were there to pr*y with us after and honestly, I felt like the heaviness the Enemy had placed on us being lifted off. I am very encouraged to see how this year is going to finish out between us!

This past weekend, Carolyn and I were invited to Vung Tau Beach with our friend Phuong and her family. There we were able to meet Phuong’s husband’s family and friends. It was definitely and overload of people but it was a great experience that even resulted in some friendships.

Phuong and I at the beach

Phuong's sister Trinh is in the dress. Their aunt is on the left.

Our time consisted of a lot of eating, time at the beach and card games. I even got a second opportunity to drive a motorbike. Watch out Da Nang because next year I will hopefully be on the road on my own!

Phuong's grandma who I believe is 91. Note that she is sitting on the floor and she got up with so much ease.

Anyway, I feel very fortunate to have had two great weekends with friends. I cannot wait to see what the rest of this month will bring!